VENUS AND ADONIS. EVEN as the sun with purple-colour'd face "Thrice fairer than myself," thus she began, "The field's chief flower, sweet above compare, "Stain to all nymphs, more lovely than a man, "More white and red than doves or roses are; "Nature that made thee, with herself at strife, "Saith that the world hath ending with thy life. "Vouchsafe, thou wonder, to alight thy steed, "And rein his proud head to the saddle-bow; "If thou wilt deign this favour, for thy meed, "A thousand honey-secrets shalt thou know: "Here come and sit, where never serpent hisses, "And being set, I'll smother thee with kisses: "And yet not cloy thy lips with loath'd satiety, "But rather famish them amid their plenty Making them red and pale with fresh variety, "Ten kisses short as one, one long as twenty: "A summer's day will seem an hour but short, "Being wasted in such time-beguiling sport." With this, she seizeth on his sweating palm, Over one arm the lusty courser's rein, She red and hot, as coals of glowing fire, The studded bridle on a ragged bough To tie the rider she begins to prove : Backward she push'd him, as she would be thrust, And govern'd him in strength, though not in lust. So soon was she along, as he was down, And kissing speaks, with lustful language broken, "If thou wilt chide, thy lips shall never open." He burns with bashful shame; she with her tears He saith, she is immodest, blames her 'miss; 1 1 Even as an empty eagle, sharp by fast, Forc'd to content, 3 but never to obey, Wishing her cheeks were gardens full of flowers, Look how a bird lies tangled in a net, 'miss] For amiss,-i.e. misbehaviour. Tires....on] A hawking term-tears, pulls, pecks, P'ure shame and aw'd resistance made him fret, Still she entreats, and prettily entreats, Being red, she loves him best; and being white, Look how he can, she cannot choose but love; Upon this promise did he raise his chin, But when her lips were ready for his pay, Never did passenger in summer's heat More thirst for drink, than she for this good turn· Her help she sees, but help she cannot get; rank] 1. e. abounding in water. She bathes in water, yet her fire must burn: "Oh, pity," 'gan she cry, " flint-hearted boy! " "Tis but a kiss I beg; why art thou coy? "I have been woo'd, as I entreat thee now, "Even by the stern and direful god of war, "Whose sinewy neck in battle ne'er did bow, "Who conquers where he comes, in every jar; "Yet hath he been my captive and my slave, "And begg'd for that which thou unask'd shalt have. “Over my altars hath he hung his lance, "His batter'd shield, his uncontrolled crest, "And for my sake hath learn'd to sport and dance, "To toy, to wanton, dally, smile, and jest; "Scorning his churlish drum, and ensign red, 66 Making my arms his field, his tent my bed. "Thus he that over-rul'd, I oversway'd, 66 66 Leading him prisoner in a red-rose chain: Strong-temper'd steel his stronger strength "Yet was he servile to my coy disdain. [obey'd, "O be not proud, nor brag not of thy might, "For mastering her that foil'd the god of fight! "Touch but my lips with those fair lips of thine, 66 (Though mine be not so fair, yet are they red,) "The kiss shall be thine own as well as mine:"What seest thou in the ground? hold up thy head; |